A counting agent is a type
Electoral observer
Election monitoring involves the observation of an election by one or more independent parties, typically from another country or from a non-governmental organization (NGO). The monitoring parties aim primarily to assess the conduct of an electi ...
and may be self-nominated, appointed by either the candidate standing for election or the candidate's
election agent
An election agent in elections in the United Kingdom, as well as some other similar political systems such as elections in India, is the person legally responsible for the conduct of a candidate's political campaign and to whom election material is ...
to oversee the counting at the election count. In the United Kingdom there is no legal requirement to appoint a counting agent.
At
elections in the Republic of Ireland
In Ireland, direct elections by universal suffrage are used for the President, the ceremonial head of state; for Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas or parliament; for the European Parliament; and for local governmen ...
, counting agents are called tallymen; they keep track not only of first-preference votes but also of
transfer
Transfer may refer to:
Arts and media
* ''Transfer'' (2010 film), a German science-fiction movie directed by Damir Lukacevic and starring Zana Marjanović
* ''Transfer'' (1966 film), a short film
* ''Transfer'' (journal), in management studies
...
s.
The number of counting agents which can be appointed is determined by the
returning officer
In various parliamentary systems, a returning officer is responsible for overseeing elections in one or more constituencies.
Australia
In Australia a returning officer is an employee of the Australian Electoral Commission or a state electoral c ...
of the election and is usually dependent on the number of counting clerks at the count. Counting agents are appointed after the period when nominations to the election are made. The election timetable will state when counting agents have to be appointed, typically a week before polling day.
The role of the counting agent is to oversee the count itself, though they may not touch any of the ballot papers and must act through the returning officer.
During counts, generally only the candidate, the candidate's partner and the candidate's counting agents may enter the place where counting takes place.
The counting agent must follow a code of practice.
See also
*
Teller (elections)
A teller is a person who counts votes in an election, vote, referendum or poll. Tellers are also known as scrutineers, poll-watchers, challengers or checkers.
They should be distinguished from polling agents and counting agents who officially rep ...
*
Polling agent
In elections in the United Kingdom, Singapore and Malaysia, a polling agent is someone appointed by either the election agent of a candidate standing for election, or where there is no election agent the candidate personally, to oversee conduct ...
*
Representation of the People Act
Representation of the People Act is a stock short title used in Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Mauritius, Pakistan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, the ...
References
External links
The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 (SI 2006/3304)
Political occupations
Elections in the United Kingdom
Constitution of the United Kingdom
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